Some sex offenders fail to register

March 04, 2009|By JOHN PAUL WSBT-TV Reporter

ELKHART CO. Â? For years, sex offenders have been required by law to register online right after they get out of prison. But how many actually do? Police in Elkhart County have investigated nearly a dozen cases already this year in which offenders haven't registered at all.

With the click of a mouse, the sex offender list lets families know about offenders living in their neighborhood.

"Approximately every 90 days every registrant is mailed an address form and they are required to fill it out, and send it back in," said Detective Brian Holloman with the Elkhart County Sheriff's Department.

In 2008, the Elkhart County Sheriff's Department said out of 370 offenders that were on the list, 45 failed to register and 42 of those cases were sent to the prosecutor's office.

There's already 16 cases of that happening this year, including a case making its way to prosecutors involving an Illinois offender who moved to Elkhart County.

"They received the NCIC hit that he was an offender," said Holloman. "So under Indiana law he's required to register at the sheriff's department under so many days, based off of his status, to get properly registered."

Despite receiving that notice from officers, he didn't show up to register. Prosecutor Curtis Hill says not doing so comes with stiff penalties.

"In the majority of those cases, we'll file charges," Hill said.

It's a felony that could land offenders 3 years in prison. Prior offenses come with stiffer penalties, up to 8 years behind bars.

While detectives track registrants by warrants, and even credit records, Prosecutor Hill says it is up to families to stay in the know in their community, and not just in cyberspace.

"The bottom line is people just have to be aware of what's going on with their neighbors, in the neighborhood," said Hill.